NZB Southern Filly Opener to be Well Contested

New Zealand's three-year-old fillies will be competing in black-type races on both sides of the Cook Straight on Saturday with the Listed $45,000 Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton seeing the opening of New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series.

The 2011/12 season will see the 31st running of the Southern Filly of the Year Series which was a four-way tie last year with Final Touch (Kashani), Princess Emmy (King's Chapel), No Choice (Coats Choice) and Fast Love (Fastnet Rock) all winning one of the four races in the Series.

Heading the field in domestic ratings is the Lisa Latta trained Elusive Red (NZ) (Elusive City x Cape Merlot). A three-time winning two-year-old, Elusive Red was black-type placed in the Listed Castletown Stakes and the Listed Ryder Stakes two starts back. She has the benefit of a fresh up run behind Dowager Queen in the Listed Fillies Stakes and has drawn well in barrier three.

The race will see three Karaka 3YO Mile nominated horses line up including the Peter and Dawn Williams trained Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock x Akris) from the wide gate of 12, who ran third in the Karaka Million last season; the Andrew Scott trained Cracker (NZ) (O'Reilly x Dilemma) from barrier five who has not been seen at the races since running fourth in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders Stakes; and Venetian Raider (NZ) (Rusty Spur x Rare Bits) for Michael Pitman who was stakes placed as a two-year-old. She will jump from gate nine.

New Zealand's newly crowned champion trainer, Pitman will also saddle up Darci Coup (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Nimble Feet) who beat last start winner Coup Rocky Road (Rock of Gibraltar) in her second start as a two-year-old.

A few lightly tried runners who add intrigue to the race include the Jason Bridgman trained Classy Fashion (Fusaichi Pegasus), a daughter of the Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion, who won her debut on September 2 and has drawn midfield in eight. Also the John Sargent trained Kasumi (NZ) (Shinko King x Mistaurian), from barrier 14, who won the Listed Champagne Stakes in her last start as a two-year-old, and the Nick Wigley trained Dolly's Wig (Snippetson x Duxom Babe) who won her maiden late last month and ran third in a recent trial. She has also drawn wide in barrier 11.

In what is shaping up as a great buy from last year's Ready to Run Sale by her trainer Guy Smith, Eh Wanda (NZ) (Duelled x Privileged) franked her trial form when winning her debut in a maiden three-year-old race at Ashburton but will have a wide draw of 13 to contend with on Saturday.

Representing the South Island Sale, the Kevin Hughes trained Our Premonition (NZ) (Postponed x Hampton Court) and Annachan (NZ) (Golan x Kellys Eye) for Murray Hamilton have both had a recent start or a trial coming into the race. They will jump from gates ten and four respectively.

The Thelma Foley trained Kerrytown Lady (NZ) (Shinko King x Golden Satchel) and Lezani (Beautiful Crown x Rondalla) representing John & Karen Parsons have both drawn well for the race with barriers one and two, with Poste Restante (NZ) (Postponed x Little Tee) from Howie Mathews' stables set to jump from barrier seven.

The winner of the $45,000 Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) will receive seven points in New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the year Series, with second place earning three points and third one point.

The Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run on Saturday at Riccarton Park at 4.18pm. For more information on the Southern Filly of the Year Series, including the race schedule and current points table, click here.